Titans, Three Other NFL Teams Interested in Free Agent Defensive Lineman Arik Armstead
NASHVILLE — After losing Denico Autry in free agency, the Tennessee Titans need a replacement to partner with Jeffery Simmons on the defensive line. According to several reports, Titans general manager Ran Carthon could bring in an old friend from the San Francisco 49ers.
According to Dianna Russini of the Athletic, the Titans are among several teams linked with interest in signing defensive lineman Arik Armstead, who reportedly refused to take a pay cut and was released Wednesday by the Niners.
The three teams besides the Titans are the Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, and Detroit Lions reportedly are interested in Armstead. The Texans, the defending AFC South champions, already have signed six free agents on the defensive side of the ball.
Carthon spent six years in the 49ers' front office from 2017 to 2022 before becoming the Titans' general manager. Armstead, 31, was entering the last year of a 5-year deal for $85 million.
Last season, the 31-year-old had five sacks and 27 tackles in 12 games. He played through a torn meniscus and underwent surgery to repair it after the Super Bowl. However, he is expected to fully recover before training camp.
San Francisco selected Armstead as the No. 17 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, making him the team's longest-tenured player.
Armstead recorded 33.5 sacks, 88 quarterback hits, and 43 tackles for loss in his career for the 49ers.
Related Titans stories
- DERRICK HENRY HAD TO GO: The roster has so many holes to fill that re-signing a 30-year-old running back — even one coming off a fourth Pro Bowl season — would have been economically imprudent. CLICK HERE
- COULD TEE HIGGINS COME HOME? If the Tennessee Titans want to trade for wide receiver Tee Higgins, who has been franchise-tagged by Cincinnati, the Titans likely would have to give draft picks to the Bengals as compensation. CLICK HERE
